Bioavailability of Flavonoids and Phenolic Acids From Cranberry Juice Cocktail in Healthy Older Adults

Tufts University

Status

Completed

Conditions

Healthy

Treatments

Other: Low calorie, sugar-free cranberry juice cocktail (54% juice)

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Industry

Identifiers

NCT00740077

PV4266

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a single-dose, pharmacokinetic study investigating the bioavailability of flavonoids and phenolic acids from cranberry juice cocktail and their breakdown products (in vivo metabolites) in healthy, older adults. Our hypothesis is that the compounds will be poorly but rapidly absorbed from the intestines and found in plasma and urine in extensively metabolized forms. These compounds will be rapidly cleared from plasma. Substantial amounts of unabsorbed compounds will be found in the stools.

Full description

Cranberries are a particularly rich source of phenolic acids and polyphenols, particularly flavonoids. Among the 20 most commonly consumed fruits in the American diet, cranberries have the highest total phenol content. Health benefits attributed to cranberries include the prevention of urinary tract infections and stomach ulcers as well as improved oral hygiene. These benefits appear to be due principally to the ability of cranberries to interfere with the adhesion of some bacteria to select cell types and surfaces.

Cranberries and cranberry constituents, including several phenolic and polyphenolic compounds, have also been shown to possess antibacterial, antiviral, anti-mutagenic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-tumorigenic, anti-angiogenic, and antioxidant activities. Most of this evidence is derived from in vitro studies and animal models. The limited number of human studies available indicate these phytochemicals are bioavailable and bioactive. However, more information is required on the bioavailability and metabolism of cranberry polyphenols, as well as on the relationship between cranberry dose and duration of use, to better understand their impact on risk factors for chronic diseases.

Enrollment

10 patients

Sex

All

Ages

50 to 70 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Men and postmenopausal women
BMI 18.5-29.9 kg/m2

Exclusion criteria

Cigarette smoking and/or nicotine replacement use
Use of cholesterol-lowering medications
Use of blood pressure-lowering medications
Use of any stomach acid-lowering medications
Cardiovascular (heart) disease
Gastrointestinal disease
Kidney disease
Endocrine disease: including diabetes, untreated thyroid disease
Rheumatoid arthritis
Active treatment for any type of cancer, except basal cell carcinoma, within 1 year prior to study admission
Systolic blood pressure > 150 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure > 95 mm Hg
Regular use of oral steroids
Regular daily intake of 2 or more alcoholic drinks
Illicit drug use
No fish oil supplements (including cod liver oil) for one month prior to study admission
No dietary supplements, including those containing any vitamins, minerals, herbs, plant concentrates (including garlic, gingko, St. John's wort) or homeopathic remedies, for one month prior to study admission